New mayor tapped for North Port City Commission, incoming members sworn in

Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
New North Port Mayor Barbara Langdon gives Pete Emrich a plaque with a gavel, as recognition for his service as mayor for this past year, at a special meeting that served as both the certification of the Nov. 2022 election results and swearing in of new city commissioners.
New North Port Mayor Barbara Langdon gives Pete Emrich a plaque with a gavel, as recognition for his service as mayor for this past year, at a special meeting that served as both the certification of the Nov. 2022 election results and swearing in of new city commissioners.

NORTH PORT – Barbara Langdon became the new North Port mayor and Alice White the new vice mayor Saturday, by unanimous vote of their peers on the City Commission.

That came on a day when the board bid farewell to District 5 commissioner Jill Luke, while her successor, Phil Stokes was sworn in and Pete Emrich took the oath of office for his second term in District 4.

A bittersweet farewell to Luke – who won a special election in May 2017 to fill a vacant District 4 seat, then won a full term in District 5 in the November 2018 election – started the day.

Related: Stokes wins District 5 seat in North Port; voters favor Price Boulevard bonds

Former City Commissioner Linda Yates praised Luke during the opening public comment period.

“Your passion for this city has been overwhelming,” said Yates, who served two terms as the District 5 member. “It’s noticed and very much appreciated.”

Yates went on to address both Stokes and Emrich, thanking them for their public service.

Outgoing North Port District 5 city commissioner Jill Luke addresses the crowd at a Saturday morning special meeting.
Outgoing North Port District 5 city commissioner Jill Luke addresses the crowd at a Saturday morning special meeting.

Luke joked that her car would go through withdrawal, since she no longer had to grab a Mountain Dew and then start her daily drive into the office, adding that she did her best to preserve a one-on-one relationship with both city staff and North Port residents.

“You're my friends and always will be my friends,” Luke said.

Stokes, who beat Victor Dobrin in the Nov. 8 election, thanked those who supported him in the election.

“I will promise you this,” he said, after taking the oath of office, “I will serve, work hard for the city with honesty, integrity and dedication."

Phil Stokes takes the oath of office to serve as the District 5 representative on the North Port City Commission, with Valerie Sanderson holding the Bible, at a Saturday morning special meeting.
Phil Stokes takes the oath of office to serve as the District 5 representative on the North Port City Commission, with Valerie Sanderson holding the Bible, at a Saturday morning special meeting.

Emrich, who was unopposed in his bid for a second consecutive term, reflected on how much the city had been through in his first four years – which included opening CoolToday Park, hiring a new city manager, and weathering the impact of Hurricane Ian.

He also looked forward to two major developments – the planned construction of the new Sarasota Memorial Hospital North Port campus and the widening of Price Boulevard between Sumter and Toledo Blade boulevards – which received funding after city voters this month approved issuing up to $80 million in bonds to fund the project..

Pete Emrich takes the oath of office to serve his second term as the District 4 representative on the North Port City Commission, with Elaine Emrich holding the Bible, at a Saturday morning special meeting.
Pete Emrich takes the oath of office to serve his second term as the District 4 representative on the North Port City Commission, with Elaine Emrich holding the Bible, at a Saturday morning special meeting.

Emrich nominated Langdon to succeed him as mayor. After unanimous agreement on that point, Commissioner Debbie McDowell nominated Alice White as vice mayor. That too passed unanimously.

White joined the board in a special election in March 2021, after David Iannotti stepped down from the District 1 seat weeks after won the November 2020 general election for health concerns.

Langdon, who campaigned in November 2020 on the need to attract more businesses and broaden North Port’s tax base, has become a staunch advocate of the need to build affordable workforce housing as well.

Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Barbara Langdon elected North Port mayor; Phil Stokes a commissioner